MAORI REINFORCEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2560, 7 September 1915, Page 6

MAORI REINFORCEMENTS

i TO LEAVE FROM WELLINGTON. The Maori-•'Reinforcements,' a body - of some 350 officers and' men, will leave ' New Zealand, from the port cf Wel- ' lington, and tihey will bo brought to ' I Wellington from their training camp at ' • Auckland for this purpose. "This is 1 by their own wish, and the wish of the 1 Maori members of Parliament," said the Defence Minister, referring to the L mattor lastnight. "Otherwise! should 1 have been quite satisfied to have them ! leave from Auckland;" lie continued. 1 ''However, their own oliiefs were'very 1 strongly of opinion that they should ! leave froin here,' and. arrangements are ■ being made for tlioir farewell. There are to be two functions. At tho first pak'elias .will be present, but tt the second the' Maori chiefs wish to meet the Maori soldiers by tiliemselves. Tea and refreshments will be provided for the troops by the Maoris, and wo hope the Mayor will let us have the Town Hall for that function." "Are you going to train any■ more I Maori Reinforcements?" the Minister was asked. "Oh, yes," said Mr. Alien. "Five or six drafts if it should be necessary. For [■ the next Maori foroo we have: some t Nine Islanders and Rarotongans who - want to go. There are about 250 of • them,-1 believe, who have been in train's ing under a sergeant. Thoy will make up the bulk of the draft, and the New Zealand. Maoris will make up the bal- \ aiice. I- shall be very delighted to hear v that the Waikato chiefs and Natives s irill find the Fourth Maori R-einforce-ii ment-s from tlioir own tribes." ,